Range-finder.



lam' l nu, m 5 3 2 E 5 2 .In 4 x 5 l O. l

Paenedept 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHE?? 1.

. M. KENNEDY.

ames moan.

PYUC'HOP LED lhz, |913' RHVED JULY 28| Igls- 1,154,952. J l Patentedept. 21, 191

" gauw: 550@ m03 2H. KENNEDY', 0F WEST GRANGE, NEW JERSEY.

MGE-3mm epeciaoation of Letten Estant.

message sept. e1, 1915.

lpylmaa filled 37; 1913, Serial Bo. 754.413. enewed lub' 33', i915. Serial H0. i235.

To all walzom it may concern.

Ba it known that I, Amazon M. KM Noor, a citizen o the United States, re-

siding at West Oran e, in the county of 5 Essex and State of .ew Jerse have invenfced certain new and usefu Improve- 'niens in Range-Finders, o which the following is a s ilication.

lliis invention relates more especiall to lo an electrical range inding stem in w ch the distance is indicaized directly in umts of length and' in which the readings-are independent oi" the voltage and resistance of the electric circuit. Rance finding has hitherto' been done by reading the angles at two stations made with the object, and Y telephoning these angles to an operator who duplicates them willi scaled rulers on e. plane cellule and reads the distance to the object by means of the scale. Or lfrom on elevated station; in which case the distance to the object is calculated from the angle made with the vertical by a line to the object by well known trigonometric formulae. Both methods require the distance to be computed after ille angles have been read. 'n

The primary object of this inventionA 1s to do away with the necessity of Inakmg 3ov computation in range finding, and this I do by 'providing n system of apparatus from which v'Lice ranges may be read directly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrically operated direct 'reading ronge finding'` system.

ln order to more fully describe my said invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- 7** v figure shows diagrammaiically one 4o form of my invention for inding the 'range by induction; Fig. 2, a geometric diagram to'nrove the theoryof the operation of the soi apparatus; Fig. 3, en eliernative form of my invention for inding 'alle conges con- A in ductirely, end- Fig. a dia-groin illustratingr siill another form of my invcnion.

Referring toiFioz. 1, 1 and 2, represent cores or ieldspzel'erablv of laminated iron on which are wound coils of wire 3 und 5o. resgeciirely, in euch o manner het magnecio poles formed ai) the polar projections thereof. Each field is. pivoted in any desired way so as to revolve around a central axis. The numeral 5 represents an' electric metervor measuring instrument cali- 56 bra'ted in units of length, as yards, and bei,k Ving an indicating needle 6 movable over a scale 7, and attached to on armature 5` whose movement is controlled by two sets of coils 8 and 9. This armature may con- 60 sist, for alternating cnrreni'of a short circuited coil of wireor of a thin strip of laminated iron, and for direct current, of a thin strip of iron. The angular position of this armature must depend only on the relative strength of the current in the two sets of coils 8 and 9, and not on any external -force. The meter illus measures simply lle roporton of these currents and no absoute amount at all. v

The numerals 10 and 11 represent two armatures located as shown', between the polar extensions of fields 1 and 2 and consisting of coils of wire, ormaure 10 being lined and armature 11 is arranged to re- 75.-

volve about the axis of field 2.

12 represents a source of alternating or pulsating electric current, while the arrows 13 and 14 represent vtelescopes directed at the object whose distance 1s to bel deter- 8o mined, and made fast, respectively, io ield 1 and armature 11. The telescope 13 is always in nlinemcnt with the polar projec tions of the lie-ld 1 while the telescope 1.4- is always at righi; angles to the plane of the armature 11, as shown.

The fields 1 and. 52 are so connected that an angular movement of one will produce an equal angular movement of the. other, and lie polar projections of field4 2 are to lie nose all limes at right angles to those of field L This equal angular moi-'ement may be produced by making elle outer diameters o ille` fields 1 and 2 equal, and connecting them 'cy a bell: or chain i5, or in :my other desired 'glie polar projections of tile ields l, and 2 ha ve parallel .faces wb ose cross-section is ai proximately equal lo the cross-section of armatures l0 and 11. 'In liis. thel space N0 between liese polar prei will he irse creed-by mcgneio lines ci practically uniform density. If armature 11 be pled in such a position that the plane of its lonvi iuclinal axis (ille axis at right angles to t e arrow l and in the same plane-therewith) coincide with c. straight line drawn from the center of one pole piece to che other of eld magnet 2, which is the neutral position o the armature or the one in which it containsA ,lle unctioos o the various parte: leaving one, say fue right inrusii of the alternator l2, the current is conducted to coils 3 of field 1 wound m that each of its polar projections, at any insano, will he magnebixsed in s. relatively opposite direction. From coils 3 the current is'conducted to coils l or lield 2 wound' similar to those of ield 1. From field 2 the current is conducted beck to 12, time completing the circuit. Armature 10 is connected@ coil 9, and armature 11 to coil 8 of meter es shown.

En o miion, che telescopes 13 and l are pain to lelie object. This turns field l so that its polar progecions are in line with the object. This revolves field 2 so that its polar projections are at right angles with those of field l. The armature 1l will be at right angles to the direction of iis own telescope or, in other Words, et right angles to a line drawn from its axis of rotation to the object.

According to the following proof the angle formed by the polar Projectionsof field 2, willi the armature 1l, 1s the same as the angle :mede at the object by two lines drawn rom the object totlie center of rotation o' che wo instruments l and 2.

Referring io Fig. 2, let A and B represent the satioue and O the object. if line CE is dem L Ai); GC A26; DB GB; the right triangles AO CBF an OCE are Similar, and lille right triangle DBF is similar to CBF; having equal angles,

end-

nected to coils 9, and armature 11 to coils- 8 of meter 5. Because of the absenceof any other controlling force, the armature of mej ter 5 will take a position which depends on the relative amounts of current in coils 8 und 9. These currents will be as the electromotive forces generated in armatures 11 and 10,. respectively. Since the same cur rent ows through coils 3 and and the ele@ trorno'cive force generated in armature l0 is' es the eine or' the angle GAB (or angle A) 1n Fig. 2, and the electromotive force geneluted in armelure ll is es the sine o the angle AOB (or angle 0) in Fig. L), according to, the trigonometric formula a so eine A smc O where a and o representllie sides of the triangle AOB opposite :ingles A and O re spectxvely, the meier 5 Will, after proper calibration, reed the distance from station B to the object O. Since the same current flows hrougli coils 3 end 4 io is also evident that the elecromotive ici-ces generated in armatures l0 and 11 will be independent of the volcege of alternator H or variations in the resistance ofv the generator circuit.

Referring now more especially to .che form of my invention shown in Fig.' 3; 16, 17, 18 and 19 represent strips of insulating materiel pivotecl et their centers 20, 21, :'82 and 23, iespectively, the said strips all being ofthe same length. The ends. of strips 16 are connected to corresponding ends of strip 18 by Wires 24 and 25 of relatively high resistance, and the ends oi stripe l? and 19 are similarly connected by similar wires 26 and 27.

Numerels 28 and 29 indicate strips or" in- .suleting material connecting the pivotal points 20-22 and 2l-23 respectively. Made fast to these strips 28 and 2.9 at pivotsZO and 21, are two pieces of electrical .conducting material 30 and 3l of relatively low resisauce, the seid conductors being al, all times at right. angles lo elle Strips. 28 end 29.

Conductor 30 is the one which isadapted to turn with the eleecope or inder and is therefore pivotcd at 20. 'Elie elescope, which I have indicated here only' diagrammeically as by arrow 32, is mounted so' as to always point et righi; englee 'lo the conductor 30. The conducto.` Bl, however, remains stationary und in line wih 20, while the strip l? turns will?. the eleeeope. or finder at that Station. The eelcope indicated oy the arrow 33 in his cese, however, always poins longiudinclly oi" Strip l? or parallel toielougi'tudinnl axis. The '35 and 9.6 maire sliding Contact ozizn conducors 30 end Sl respectively. Liso plvcted ct is an inem- Q leing etz-i934 oi elle seme lengli es strip 18,

fvwoiaw A v and these strips are so connected that angular movement of one about its ivot imparts a corresponding movement to t e other-. In the' dia Secomp ed by connectin the endso strip 16 to corresponding en of stri 34 by wires or cords 35 and 36 indicated inrokon iines to distin them from the electric circuits o which they formno part. The

strips 17 and 34 oro made fast other so that their longitudinal axes will a ways be.. porpendicuinr to each other. Strip 18 will therefore always oe at Aright angles to atrio 17.

Tine distance iiom pivot 20 to the upper end (d) oi strip 18 should equal the dis tance from pivot 51 to the corresponding end ,of vstrip 34. Also, the distancia from gaivot 20 to the upger end o strip 3.6 should equal the distance "krom pivot 32 to tiie corresponding end of strip 18, ond the distance from 21 to the oppor end (n) of strip 17 should equal the distance from pivot 23 to the corresponding end of strip 19. ABy end is meant oint of connection of wires- 25, 35 and 26. 1' im 25. wiil therefore koe parallel to isei' and' pergiendicoar fno'con uctor 30 as strip 16mvoivos around pivot 20, and Wire 28 will keep paroiiei to itself and'perpendicular to conductor 31 as strip 17 involves around pivot Therefore the distance from a to b, and consequently the portion of the wire 26 wiii he as the sine 'of tho angie c,

and in like manner the resistono@ of that poriion of the wire 25 between its point of contact c with conductor 3i) and the int d wiii be an the eine of the angie o. trips 28 and 29 need not nessarily be of the same iangth. In this case the electric current may be either aitez'nating o'r diiect. In the diagram, have indicated bv battery 37 a.

source of direct current. The ius pole of this battery is connected throng conductor 38 to the Wim' 25 at d, and the negative pole is connected through wire 39 'to the wire 28 at a. The conductors 30 and 3l are electrically connected 'by wire 40. A meter 41 having two sew of coils 43 and 44, a movabie armature 41* as described with reference to meter 5, Fig. 1, o pointu' 52, and a scolo 45 caiibrated in unita of length is connected to the ccnductore, 559 and 40, as shown.

Tol operate, the teiescopes 32 and 33 are pointed et the onion?. The eiect of this is to pinos the iom'itudinai axis of strip 17 in ino with the object, ond the conductor 30 at *ight angles thereto; that is, at righi ongies to o line drawn *from 'pivot 20 tothe object. Strip 1 viii ina :it right ongles to oip l?,

' and, os previouniy shown, ongle? wii be die come :is angie: inane :it the Voogeo. by lmeo Limi-Fm heroic ifi-om the poiis 2i? ond 2l at 'the fte/o citations.

I have indicated this as bein 1 z ent leaving the us side of the battery 3T Iollows wire 38 t rough a fiexible lead to o', thence down wire 25 to c, thence along com doctor 30, through a exibie lead, through.

wire 40 to thence along wire 26 to a, thence through flexible lead and wire 39 to battery. Now the wires 25 and 26 between points and o--b arevthe only appreciabieresistances in the circuit, and 'have electromotve forces around them as their resistances since the y i current is the same in each case. Coils 43 are in shunt around df-o and the curntin them is 'as the electromotive ioroe around d-c. Likewise, coils 44 are in shunt around o o, and the correnthrough 'themis os the eiectromotive around o-ZJ. Therefore,

since the distances between. pointsa and and between points ci and come as the eines of angles a and o respectively, the movement of tile meter indicator Wiii be as the proportions between theso sines, and, aording to the formula,

no sino A lsino O the meter may be calibrated. to read the distance' from station B to object O, Fig. 2.

As with the inductive method rst. described, th-e indication of pointer i2 is independent of the voltage of thegenem'tor or variation of resistance of the generator circuit, since the meter amply measures the relative E. M. Fs. of d-c and rr-6, and this,

- To'xneasure the distance from an oiova'aed i station to an object, but' one instrument. (estacion) is equinccl, since the distances. is equal to the verticni height of the mimo divided by the sine of the angie made by .'a.-

horizontal line and the line to the object. In this case one of the of coils as 8 of the meter may be connected in :varies with the generator 12 and iieid coiie 3, whie the ot'nacnet of'coiis 9 of the' meter me? be con necked, in with the annoiare l@ of se station instrument as shown in Fig.- fe

Various other moditiono may be modewithout departing from the spirit of my in-` venion.

W'hot I oinim ieu- 1. Rango nding oncoming, compring on With the'telesco s pointed as shown, cur- Licence ive to va'u'y the electrical 'forces acing o n said instrument in accoran with be vanaticn m thenngular rela'tion of said elemania ci ihn lnder.

.2. Bagage ndingz apparatus, ccinprising,y a

10. mehr mnpfed io measure the proportion tween tva verisble electromotiva forces and lixving n' vmovable member, and 'means ccnxprising n Source o' clecromove fierce :anni a iincler having 5m-o iclaively movable clectril elements copemtive nach daher an with said scarce o eectrcmcive force to vary the proportien ci he electi'cmoive fumes in said meter :limi-to 'iercliy canne the same to indicate l219 eine mages.

3. ncling apparatus, ccmprising a. meier having ineens to measure the proper tion between two variable electrcmotive crces anrl having a .scala calibrated in unizs of lengthcnrl an iniccting member xelatively movable with respect ic said scala and commfting .ilierewiih vic indicnie the :fange directly, and means comp-rising e. source of clecicmove cice ami a inflar lmving 'fvo relatively' movable electrical elements cccperabive with each einer and with said sources cf'electroinoive fome in vary the proportien of the elecfurcmotivc forces in said met-cr ns che displacement bciween the two relatively movable elecrical elements of @he rcepectiva inclsxsfvancs. r

4. Range inmg apparatus, comprising a meter having means to mecanica the pzcpcriicu between 'two variable clectx'omotive 40 cices and havingn scale calibrated in units oi' lcngthn in indicating member mlatively movable with respect tc said, scalecnfl ,cmpemhve i-iicrewitn to inflicee the 'mange dirccly, and means ccmprismg e. scur 0I 46 clecroxnc'ti-va crce and a iinder lien/in wo rclii'iivly angularly movable electrica ele menne cogxirntive wiih cach einer and wich scifi ci clectrcmotivc force ifo vary the proportion 'ci' the elecrcniotive forces in 59 mici meier az ne m'nee of the angles ci dissplacemen' between the vsvvc relatively movable electrical elements ci the respectiva finders.

5'. image ndert, comprising a ai. of

nclers emlsoying relaiiveljgf movao e @le elcmens, s. .coni-ce ci electric curr-'enc ccnnecie to canin ci .inici clemente. :bile lar modifying smid current acccrdin tc ihn mlnic pf'mtinns cccupied by the nnvV 5% cra, and en im'irnr having :i movable in- 6. Bange nding apparatus, comprising nn indicating instrument Jndaptcfl t0 1711833# ure the proportion between two electronictive forces and having means to indicate the ianges directly, and means to operate said instrument comprisingA :1 source o electromotive force and two finders each having two relatively movable electrical elements mutually ccperacive to vay said electromotive forces.

'J'.Bange finding apparatus, comprising en indicating instrument adapted to measure the proportion between two clectromotive crcesrand having means to indicata the ranges directly, and means to operate said instalment comprising a, ecurce of electromotive oranrl mo inders each having two relazively movable electrical clemenza' mutually ccpemzlve to vci'y salelecromotive forces, .one ci said finders being 'pw vide witn telescope movable with one ofthe movable electiical elemenis fiierccf, and

,the other iinei: with n telescope movable wiih a. different electrical elemeni; v

'8. Renga finding naparacus, comprising two electrical circuiis en indicating instrumentiiaving a nel; of coils, one eet incacn ci' said circuits, m a range inior relatively movable Willi 'respect bo sani coils, n, source of electromctive cr, and means cooperative therewith' to operai-e said inclicat-- ing ins'ruinent, said means comprisinv c finder having; two reliltively movable 'cl-ec? trical clemence ccpcraively arranged to vary by their mutual angular displacemen',

the electromctiveorces in said circuits, cinc o' said circuits moei-ving current constantly from said source ci' electromotive force, and the other of seid circuits receiving current only by inclucion between said relatively movable element.

9. Range lnding apparatus, comprising two finders en c'i having ivm relatively incr-.L able inducively Eclaicfl electrical elements, an electric meier in circuit Wi'cii one o said elemente ci cach finder and ceiving currcn infima-'lively geneieze aiicc in by he angular ciisplaccment licween tile ziwcsaid relatively movable elements, and a source ci electricity ccnnecife tu che ctner element., substanially as :escri'ce 10. Ran e nding apparatus, having two electrical iii-fiers cach ccmpz'ising an arma" inne and n ccperaively a'rxingc ield,the iiells of une instrumeni, scc ai. ven angle of 96 mm the cine?, and ezlzipied turn willi :in equal cngnlm' sncvcincn; with lie einer field, energizing, cnils for mici cifls, armures of electric cufrcni. ccmce chers-eco, and c. meier liga-Jing two seis of mile @ne con,m nwed in ciccui. wich ha anzzir-lrc mi one ner, cmi 'i'ie cc'icz in circuit wi'h ne measure the pro rtion between the electromotive ors o the armstums of the two nders and calibrated in units of 'length to read the distances directly, substantially as d. 1 nimg -ge appara us, mprising two Aders imving es h a field, an armature and circuits therefor, which armfaturea generste simil-emotiva forces varying as the w eines of he magies made by them with their respective fields, a meter adapted t o measure the proportion of said elecrenrotwa forges, and a. sour ci eectric current forgepar im; said fields, substantially as desn testimon r whereof ax my Signatura 15 in presence 0I' two witn ABSALOM M. mNNEDY. Witnees;

E. H. VomxmNH, H. M. lRoraima. 

